Abstract

Cherenkov radiation is a peculiar form of electromagnetic radiation emitted by charged particles that propagate at a velocity larger than the phase velocity of light [1]. In addition to several applications, including the development of novel light sources and the detection of labeled biomolecules, this type of radiation is widely utilized in so-called Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detectors in high-energy physics experiments [2]. Indeed, at fixed momentum, the Cherenkov cone, which is a measure of the particle’s velocity, can be used for the determination of the mass and the identification of the unknown particle. Unfortunately, there exists a trade-off in RICH detectors between the intensity of the generated Cherenkov beam and the accuracy of the velocity measurement.

© 2015 IEEE